There have been a series of reports from a number of sources that Venezuela has finalized a deal with Russian arms manufacturers for around $1 billion, which reportedly includes SU-30MK2 (Mnogafunctunali Kommercial 2-seat) long-range multi-role fighters and various Russian helicopters in an extension of an earlier 2005 helicopter deal.
Russian deals are extremely non-transparent, and often there are conflicting reports with no official confirmation of announced reports or additional details released. Based on news reports from various sources, however, here's what DID can tell you about the likely shape of the deal, aside from the USA's predictably futile requests that Russia not go through with the sale.http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...u30s/index.php

July 29th, 2006

WarMachine

Heard about that, i'm not really surprised but apparently the american govt is. I'm thinking, if you're going to embargo arms to venezuela, wouldn't it make sense that hugo would just buy from another source?

Bush admin shouldn't be angry at russia, it was their own lousy foreign policy that resulted in this. Sure russia probably knew the situation as well, but they were being capitalists and just trying to earn a buck from a customer. That's what we're doing when we sell weapons to taiwan and south korea much to the chagrin of their neighbors, it's really nothing special.

Besides, a south american country is only a political problem, not a military one. Hugo can only keep being angry at america so long has he has regional support, which isn't as good as it used to be after recent elections in latin america.

July 29th, 2006

Rabs

Quote:

That's what we're doing when we sell weapons to taiwan and south korea much to the chagrin of their neighbors, it's really nothing special.

Oh please, we sell to those countries to help them protect themselves. We actually discrimnate (a little bit) before we sell to bad guys. Venezula isnt being threatend its just Russia needing cash to keep her bread lines going.

Quote:

Besides, a south american country is only a political problem, not a military one. Hugo can only keep being angry at america so long has he has regional support, which isn't as good as it used to be after recent elections in latin america.

He likes to bully his neighbors and wouldnt be totally opposed to expanding his borders.

--

July 29th, 2006

mmarsh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabs

Oh please, we sell to those countries to help them protect themselves. We actually discrimnate (a little bit) before we sell to bad guys. Venezula isnt being threatend its just Russia needing cash to keep her bread lines going.

He likes to bully his neighbors and wouldnt be totally opposed to expanding his borders.

I'm no fan of Chavez, but we Americans do have some of the blame in this. For one, Chavez unlike Castro was democratically elected by a large margin (over 60%) and the US tried to overthrow him in 2002. It seems hypocritical to preach "spreading democracy in the world" only to try and oust the guys we dont like who happen to get elected, not to mention te damage it does to our image. Chavez certainly milked that one for all it was worth, it was a very stupid move by the neocons.

Secondly when we stopped selling him F-16 parts did we really expect that Chavez would fold his tent and quit. It was perdictable he would take his business elsewhere, and the US is not the only player in the international arms market.

What to know how to handle Chavez? Do nothing. He's only popular whenever the US tries and get involved. The more we interfere the more people start to listen to Chavez. If we ignore him and let him scream into the wind people will lose interest in him.